What type of boiler is typically more compact and suitable for smaller applications?

Fire-tube boilers are known for their compact design, making them particularly suitable for smaller applications. In this type of boiler, the hot gases produced from combustion pass through tubes that are surrounded by water. This design allows for a smaller footprint while still effectively generating steam or hot water for heating or industrial processes.

Their construction benefits from a simpler design compared to water-tube boilers, where the water circulates through tubes that are surrounded by hot gases. The fire-tube configuration typically requires less structural strength because the pressure is contained within the tubes rather than the surrounding water, which contributes to the overall size efficiency. This makes fire-tube boilers widely used in applications such as heating systems, small-scale industrial operations, and facilities where space is limited.

Other types of boilers, while they have their applications, tend to be larger and less suited for compact installations than fire-tube boilers, particularly when space or installation costs are a concern.